Oxburgh Hall's Victorian garden adapted for climate change
A 19th Century garden belonging to a Grade I-listed 15th Century manor house is to be adapted to help it cope with the effects of climate change. Changes to the Parterre Garden at Oxburgh Estate, Norfolk, include removing the box hedging. Senior gardener Dea Fischer said its replacement needed to tolerate "dry, exposed conditions". The National Trust said the estate had just experienced its longest period of drought ever recorded. The parterre was created in 1848 and needs a major refresh every 30 to 40 years. It was last fully refurbished in 1972. Its box hedging is under threat from a fungus known to gardeners as "box blight" and will be replaced by Euonymus japonicus microphyllus. Ms Fischer said this followed a two-year hedging trial at Oxburgh, which tested three alternative species. The Euonymus "tolerates the light, sandy soil, as well as dry, exposed conditions here", she said. The National Trust's Plant Conservation Centre will propagate 6,000 new plants and they will start arriving in spring 2024. The team also plans to replace the parterre's 7,000 annual plants with perennials to provide a year-round display. Ms Fischer said she had chosen plants to reflect "the heraldry colour palette of the Bedingfeld family who have called Oxburgh home for more than 500 years". But its central medallion will planted with the traditional red Canna indica lilies and Pelargonium Paul Crampel, which the hall's records show has been propagated at Oxburgh since Victorian times. The National Trust said climate change was having "a serious impact" on the estate and its longest period of recorded drought was from summer 2022 to May. Follow East of England news on Facebook , Instagram and Twitter . Got a story? Email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 0800 169 1830 End of restoration reveals craftmanship at hall Roof tiles on 500-year-old manor adapted for bats Climate threats to historic sites identified 'Rare items' found in attic of Tudor manor Woman born during Battle of Passchendaele celebrates 106th birthday 7 of the best roast dinners in Norfolk according to Google reviews 5 celebrities you could spot in Norwich this autumn Severe thunderstorm warning issued for parts of Norfolk Gorleston woman's care home eviction almost due Call for rethink to stop sell off of empty council buildings Race against time to save Morocco quake survivors US denies Cold War with China in historic Vietnam visit How Russia and West agreed on Ukraine G20 language How Russia and West agreed on Ukraine G20 language US denies Cold War with China in historic Vietnam visit 'Everyone in this village is either dead or missing' At the scene of Morocco mosque collapsed by quake. Video At the scene of Morocco mosque collapsed by quake Inside the horror of Europe's biggest wildfire Inside a 'hijacked' South African building. Video Inside a 'hijacked' South African building How chronic pain feels for me. Video How chronic pain feels for me The rise and fall of a parenting influencer Guyana scrambles to make the most of oil wealth Florida's first hurricane-proof town The greatest spy novel ever written? Why is everyone crazy about Aperol? 2023 BBC.